Roster construction is a perennial topic of discussion for college football fans.
Mario Cristobal often talks about how he is applying his Oregon blueprint to Miami. So, I put that to the test by reviewing his old Oregon classes to identify any similarities and differences.
First, I examined the average height and weight between each roster’s offensive and defensive lines from 2018 to 2025. Some notes at the outset: for the Oregon rosters, I included Linebackers with the Defensive Line, as Oregon during that time frame often listed many edge rushers as outside linebackers. I did not include FIU, as it was Mario Cristobal’s first job, and resources were limited. Finally, this study only encompasses scholarship players.
Offensive Line/Defensive Line - Height - Weight:
Oregon 2018-2021 - OL: 6’5 - 315.1 lbs - DL: 6’3.5 - 269.6 lbs
Miami 2022-2025 - OL: 6’4.5 - 309.75 - DL: 6’3.5 - 268.7 lbs
The obvious trend throughout this is that Cristobal likes to build rosters with large individuals on the lines. Note that it can be challenging to obtain official heights and weights; this data was obtained from available information. I am almost positive the average weights are higher, especially for those who entered each program lighter as freshmen. But it’s still obvious there’s been an effort to find NFL-sized players.
Not surprisingly, Miami’s projected starters on the offensive line (Markel Bell, Matthew McCoy, James Brockermeyer, Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa)average out at 6’6, 318 pounds.
But what about overall recruiting? How have Mario Cristobal and company fared since 2018 at Oregon, to Miami now in 2025?
Disclaimer: Overall rankings will be composite rankings.
Oregon 2018-2021: 9.75 average overall class ranking (21st average overall transfer ranking *two seasons*) - 12.25 offensive players on average (between four classes) (4.25 OL, 4.75 WR/TEs, 1.75 RBs, 1.5 QBs on average) - 12.5 defensive players on average (four DL, three LBs, 5.5 DBs on average) - 1.5 special teams players on average.
Miami 2022-2025: 10.25 average overall class ranking (eighth overall average transfer ranking) - 16.25 offensive players on average (over four classes) (5.5 OL, 6.5 WR/TEs, 2.5 RBs, 1.75 QBs on average) - 20.75 defensive players on average (8.5 DL, four LBs, 8.25 DBs on average) - 1.3 special teams players on average
Cristobal, from a recruiting standpoint, has put his rosters together similarly since 2018, rarely, if ever, having a partiality to one side of the ball, too significantly or one position, aside from 2024, when it comes to sheer number discrepancy between the two sides.
One trend is Cristobal’s adaptability. Every year, the Transfer Portal has seen a bigger surge than the previous year. He’s filled holes left by graduates, professional entries, and transfers, and that trend is not going to end now - Miami’s 2025 transfer class was Cristobal’s biggest to date.
Another takeaway is that rarely is there going to be a year that Cristobal takes less than four new offensive or defensive linemen, which lines up with the idea and mindset his teams have taken on in the trenches. The only year in which Oregon or Miami has taken fewer than four offensive linemen is 2019, and the only two years Oregon or Miami has taken fewer than five defensive linemen are 2018 and 2021.
So, these classes have produced on-field results, right? It may depend on who you ask. Cristobal went 35-13 over five seasons (he coached one game in 2017) at Oregon, and has gone 22-16 in his time as the head coach at the University of Miami.
He won the Pac-12 back-to-back years in 2019/2020 at Oregon, but hasn’t won the ACC in his time at Miami. However, he is coming off a 10-3 season, and the team has high hopes of winning its first ACC championship in 2025 since joining the conference in 2004.
Lastly, another important factor is sending players to play professional football, mainly, the NFL. So, how has Mario Cristobal done since taking over as a head coach in 2018 at Oregon, until now, in 2025 (the most recent draft)?
Disclaimer: This list includes those who were initially in the class; this is to highlight a mixture of finding NFL-worthy prospects and developing them. But again, this list will include players who were drafted at different schools, or after Mario Cristobal joined Miami. Transfers, in or out, will be notated with an asterisk. The list will either be players who were drafted or UDFAs who are currently on an NFL roster. This does not include players Cristobal inherited from previous rosters, only players whom he recruited to the school.
Oregon 2018 class: Penei Sewell - OT - First round - Seventh overall - 2021 NFL Draft - DET
Tyler Shough* - QB - Second round - 40th overall - 2025 NFL Draft - NOLA
Jevon Holland - S - Second round - 36th overall - 2021 NFL Draft - MIA (signed with NYG)
Steven Jones - OG - UDFA - JAX (currently with PIT)
Travis Dye* - RB - UDFA - NYJ
Oregon 2019 class: Kayvon Thibodeaux - EDGE - First Round - Fifth overall - 2022 NFL Draft - NYG
Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu - OG - Sixth round - 199th overall - 2023 NFL Draft - BAL (signed with SEA)
DJ James* - CB - Sixth Round - 192nd overall - 2024 NFL Draft - SEA (signed with NE)
Jamal Hill - S - Sixth Round - 188th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - HOU
Brandon Dorlus - DL - Fourth Round - 109th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - ATL
Juwan Johnson* - TE - UDFA - NOLA
Oregon 2020 class: Noah Sewell - LB - Fifth Round - 148th overall - 2023 NFL Draft - CHI
Donate Manning - CB - UDFA - ATL
Trey Benson* - RB - Third Round - 66th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - ARI
TJ Bass - G - UDFA - DAL
Oregon 2021 class: Kingley Suamataia* - G - Second Round - 63rd overall - 2024 NFL Draft - KC
Troy Franklin - WR - Fourth Round - 102nd overall - 2024 NFL Draft - DEN
Dont’e Thornton* - WR - Fourth Round - 108th overall - 2025 NFL Draft - LV
Jackson Powers-Johnson - C - Second Round - 44th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - LV
Terrance Ferguson - TE - Second Round - 46th overall - 2025 NFL Draft - LAR
Miami 2022 class: Most players from this class have only recently become draft eligible, aside from the transfers. Daryl Porter Jr. is the only player currently on an NFL roster that I can find from the 2021 transfer class. So, I will be listing those from the class who may get looks at the NFL as of right now.
Possible Pro Prospects:
Ahkeem Mesidor* - DL
Anez Cooper - G
Ahmad Moten - DL
Matthew McCoy - G
Isaiah Horton* - WR
Wesley Bissainthe - LB
Nyjalik Kelly* - EDGE
Colbie Young* - WR
Miami 2023 class: Non-transfers from this class are just reaching draft eligibility.
Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa* - LB - Fifth Round - 162nd overall - 2025 NFL Draft - NYJ
Matt Lee* - C - Seventh Round - 237th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - CIN
Jaden Davis* - CB - Seventh Round - 226th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - ARI
Possible Pro Prospects:
Jadais Richard* - DB
Raul Aguirre - LB
Damari Brown - DB
Mark Fletcher - RB
Samson Okunlola - OL
Rueben Bain - EDGE (First round projected - 2026 NFL Draft)
Francis Mauigoa - OT (First round projected - 2026 NFL Draft)
Miami 2024 class: Non-transfers from this class have yet to become draft eligible
Cam Ward* - QB - First Round - First overall - 2025 NFL Draft - TEN
Tyler Baron* - EDGE - Fifth Round - 176th overall - 2025 NFL Draft - NYJ
Simeon Barrow* - DL - UFDA - ATL
Damien Martinez* - RB - Seventh Round - 223rd overall - 2025 NFL Draft - SEA
Possible Pro Prospects:
Markel Bell* - OT
OJ Frederique Jr. - CB
Jordan Lyle - RB
Elija Lofton - TE
Armondo Blount - DL
Justin Scott - DL
Joshia Trader - WR
Marquise Lightfoot - EDGE
Cam Pruitt - LB
Booker Pickett - EDGE
Miami 2025 class: Non-transfers from this class have yet to become draft eligible
Possible Pro Prospects (Incoming Freshman not included, as they have yet to play any snaps):
Mohamed Toure* - LB
Jakobe Thomas *- S
Keelan Marion* - WR
Carson Beck* - QB
Xavier Lucas* - DB
Ethan O’Connor* - CB
CJ Daniels* - WR
Zechariah Poyser* - S
Charles Brantley* - CB
David Blay Jr.* - DT
In total, of players Cristobal has recruited since his first full class at Oregon in 2018, until 2024 (most recent draftees/signees), there have been two QBs selected/signed in the NFL, three RBs, four WR/TEs, seven OL, four DL, one LB, and six DBs.
Again, this does not include players recruited under another coach, but that does not mean there was no contribution to their draft stock and/or development by Cristobal. This concerns roster construction specifically.
The roster construction for Cristobal has always been similar: Prioritize the trenches, and get NFL body types at those positions. Physical and often bigger defensive backs tend to be a priority as well. He and his staff at each stop have taken a similar approach, but class and region can cause deviations from the overall plan on occasion, as well.
The ultimate goal now is to get over the obstacles that have caused occasional down years. High school quarterback recruiting, while much better within the 2024 and 2025 cycle, needs to continue to improve. Continuing to land wide receiver talent from South Florida and the rest of the country will be important as well.
I won’t say this blindly, as it could be misinterpreted, but I think the program and the construction of each roster year by year are on the right path. It can be easy to be purely results-driven, and that’s the name of the game, I get it. No house was built without a foundation, and the last few cycles have been foundational pieces.
Mario Cristobal often talks about how he is applying his Oregon blueprint to Miami. So, I put that to the test by reviewing his old Oregon classes to identify any similarities and differences.
First, I examined the average height and weight between each roster’s offensive and defensive lines from 2018 to 2025. Some notes at the outset: for the Oregon rosters, I included Linebackers with the Defensive Line, as Oregon during that time frame often listed many edge rushers as outside linebackers. I did not include FIU, as it was Mario Cristobal’s first job, and resources were limited. Finally, this study only encompasses scholarship players.
Offensive Line/Defensive Line - Height - Weight:
Oregon 2018-2021 - OL: 6’5 - 315.1 lbs - DL: 6’3.5 - 269.6 lbs
Miami 2022-2025 - OL: 6’4.5 - 309.75 - DL: 6’3.5 - 268.7 lbs
The obvious trend throughout this is that Cristobal likes to build rosters with large individuals on the lines. Note that it can be challenging to obtain official heights and weights; this data was obtained from available information. I am almost positive the average weights are higher, especially for those who entered each program lighter as freshmen. But it’s still obvious there’s been an effort to find NFL-sized players.
Not surprisingly, Miami’s projected starters on the offensive line (Markel Bell, Matthew McCoy, James Brockermeyer, Anez Cooper, Francis Mauigoa)average out at 6’6, 318 pounds.
But what about overall recruiting? How have Mario Cristobal and company fared since 2018 at Oregon, to Miami now in 2025?
Disclaimer: Overall rankings will be composite rankings.
Oregon 2018-2021: 9.75 average overall class ranking (21st average overall transfer ranking *two seasons*) - 12.25 offensive players on average (between four classes) (4.25 OL, 4.75 WR/TEs, 1.75 RBs, 1.5 QBs on average) - 12.5 defensive players on average (four DL, three LBs, 5.5 DBs on average) - 1.5 special teams players on average.
Miami 2022-2025: 10.25 average overall class ranking (eighth overall average transfer ranking) - 16.25 offensive players on average (over four classes) (5.5 OL, 6.5 WR/TEs, 2.5 RBs, 1.75 QBs on average) - 20.75 defensive players on average (8.5 DL, four LBs, 8.25 DBs on average) - 1.3 special teams players on average
Cristobal, from a recruiting standpoint, has put his rosters together similarly since 2018, rarely, if ever, having a partiality to one side of the ball, too significantly or one position, aside from 2024, when it comes to sheer number discrepancy between the two sides.
One trend is Cristobal’s adaptability. Every year, the Transfer Portal has seen a bigger surge than the previous year. He’s filled holes left by graduates, professional entries, and transfers, and that trend is not going to end now - Miami’s 2025 transfer class was Cristobal’s biggest to date.
Another takeaway is that rarely is there going to be a year that Cristobal takes less than four new offensive or defensive linemen, which lines up with the idea and mindset his teams have taken on in the trenches. The only year in which Oregon or Miami has taken fewer than four offensive linemen is 2019, and the only two years Oregon or Miami has taken fewer than five defensive linemen are 2018 and 2021.
So, these classes have produced on-field results, right? It may depend on who you ask. Cristobal went 35-13 over five seasons (he coached one game in 2017) at Oregon, and has gone 22-16 in his time as the head coach at the University of Miami.
He won the Pac-12 back-to-back years in 2019/2020 at Oregon, but hasn’t won the ACC in his time at Miami. However, he is coming off a 10-3 season, and the team has high hopes of winning its first ACC championship in 2025 since joining the conference in 2004.
Lastly, another important factor is sending players to play professional football, mainly, the NFL. So, how has Mario Cristobal done since taking over as a head coach in 2018 at Oregon, until now, in 2025 (the most recent draft)?
Disclaimer: This list includes those who were initially in the class; this is to highlight a mixture of finding NFL-worthy prospects and developing them. But again, this list will include players who were drafted at different schools, or after Mario Cristobal joined Miami. Transfers, in or out, will be notated with an asterisk. The list will either be players who were drafted or UDFAs who are currently on an NFL roster. This does not include players Cristobal inherited from previous rosters, only players whom he recruited to the school.
Oregon 2018 class: Penei Sewell - OT - First round - Seventh overall - 2021 NFL Draft - DET
Tyler Shough* - QB - Second round - 40th overall - 2025 NFL Draft - NOLA
Jevon Holland - S - Second round - 36th overall - 2021 NFL Draft - MIA (signed with NYG)
Steven Jones - OG - UDFA - JAX (currently with PIT)
Travis Dye* - RB - UDFA - NYJ
Oregon 2019 class: Kayvon Thibodeaux - EDGE - First Round - Fifth overall - 2022 NFL Draft - NYG
Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu - OG - Sixth round - 199th overall - 2023 NFL Draft - BAL (signed with SEA)
DJ James* - CB - Sixth Round - 192nd overall - 2024 NFL Draft - SEA (signed with NE)
Jamal Hill - S - Sixth Round - 188th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - HOU
Brandon Dorlus - DL - Fourth Round - 109th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - ATL
Juwan Johnson* - TE - UDFA - NOLA
Oregon 2020 class: Noah Sewell - LB - Fifth Round - 148th overall - 2023 NFL Draft - CHI
Donate Manning - CB - UDFA - ATL
Trey Benson* - RB - Third Round - 66th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - ARI
TJ Bass - G - UDFA - DAL
Oregon 2021 class: Kingley Suamataia* - G - Second Round - 63rd overall - 2024 NFL Draft - KC
Troy Franklin - WR - Fourth Round - 102nd overall - 2024 NFL Draft - DEN
Dont’e Thornton* - WR - Fourth Round - 108th overall - 2025 NFL Draft - LV
Jackson Powers-Johnson - C - Second Round - 44th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - LV
Terrance Ferguson - TE - Second Round - 46th overall - 2025 NFL Draft - LAR
Miami 2022 class: Most players from this class have only recently become draft eligible, aside from the transfers. Daryl Porter Jr. is the only player currently on an NFL roster that I can find from the 2021 transfer class. So, I will be listing those from the class who may get looks at the NFL as of right now.
Possible Pro Prospects:
Ahkeem Mesidor* - DL
Anez Cooper - G
Ahmad Moten - DL
Matthew McCoy - G
Isaiah Horton* - WR
Wesley Bissainthe - LB
Nyjalik Kelly* - EDGE
Colbie Young* - WR
Miami 2023 class: Non-transfers from this class are just reaching draft eligibility.
Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa* - LB - Fifth Round - 162nd overall - 2025 NFL Draft - NYJ
Matt Lee* - C - Seventh Round - 237th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - CIN
Jaden Davis* - CB - Seventh Round - 226th overall - 2024 NFL Draft - ARI
Possible Pro Prospects:
Jadais Richard* - DB
Raul Aguirre - LB
Damari Brown - DB
Mark Fletcher - RB
Samson Okunlola - OL
Rueben Bain - EDGE (First round projected - 2026 NFL Draft)
Francis Mauigoa - OT (First round projected - 2026 NFL Draft)
Miami 2024 class: Non-transfers from this class have yet to become draft eligible
Cam Ward* - QB - First Round - First overall - 2025 NFL Draft - TEN
Tyler Baron* - EDGE - Fifth Round - 176th overall - 2025 NFL Draft - NYJ
Simeon Barrow* - DL - UFDA - ATL
Damien Martinez* - RB - Seventh Round - 223rd overall - 2025 NFL Draft - SEA
Possible Pro Prospects:
Markel Bell* - OT
OJ Frederique Jr. - CB
Jordan Lyle - RB
Elija Lofton - TE
Armondo Blount - DL
Justin Scott - DL
Joshia Trader - WR
Marquise Lightfoot - EDGE
Cam Pruitt - LB
Booker Pickett - EDGE
Miami 2025 class: Non-transfers from this class have yet to become draft eligible
Possible Pro Prospects (Incoming Freshman not included, as they have yet to play any snaps):
Mohamed Toure* - LB
Jakobe Thomas *- S
Keelan Marion* - WR
Carson Beck* - QB
Xavier Lucas* - DB
Ethan O’Connor* - CB
CJ Daniels* - WR
Zechariah Poyser* - S
Charles Brantley* - CB
David Blay Jr.* - DT
In total, of players Cristobal has recruited since his first full class at Oregon in 2018, until 2024 (most recent draftees/signees), there have been two QBs selected/signed in the NFL, three RBs, four WR/TEs, seven OL, four DL, one LB, and six DBs.
Again, this does not include players recruited under another coach, but that does not mean there was no contribution to their draft stock and/or development by Cristobal. This concerns roster construction specifically.
The roster construction for Cristobal has always been similar: Prioritize the trenches, and get NFL body types at those positions. Physical and often bigger defensive backs tend to be a priority as well. He and his staff at each stop have taken a similar approach, but class and region can cause deviations from the overall plan on occasion, as well.
The ultimate goal now is to get over the obstacles that have caused occasional down years. High school quarterback recruiting, while much better within the 2024 and 2025 cycle, needs to continue to improve. Continuing to land wide receiver talent from South Florida and the rest of the country will be important as well.
I won’t say this blindly, as it could be misinterpreted, but I think the program and the construction of each roster year by year are on the right path. It can be easy to be purely results-driven, and that’s the name of the game, I get it. No house was built without a foundation, and the last few cycles have been foundational pieces.
